The "man from the motor-trade" line is referring to a job interview at a car-lot. It's a British term for a car salesperson. [edit] I never really thought about your "Paul" theory, but it may have some merit. There are people who actually BELIEVE that Paul had died by this time and had been replaced by an exact duplicate (a doppelganger), so MAYBE the others mates were repulsed by this biological facsimile. Gosh I love stupid myths like this! 😉